decisions decisions. 7m gte

[spoolintanabe]

the 7mgte, has the usual headgasket problem, and i can tell this without even looking.

the bores probably full of rust. and the valves are probably sieged shut by now. seeing i haven't been able to repair it for a year, due to fiancial hardship and e.g going back to uni, and working part-time), but i can do it, just gotta save smartly i guess.

now, ive seen i can get an exchange motor for these, around the $1200 mark and get it changed over for a decent price. pretty much pull out the old and plonk in the new.

but how long would it last? thats the question.

its blown twice on me now. i got it fixed first time with a monotorque headgasket and torqued the headbolts to that newer setting, but they did deck the block. but theysaid it was suffering from heat sink. seeing its probably rusted out now. would it be cheaper to put a copper gasket on the O-ringed head and block of an exchange motor. plus some arp bolts.

anyone else come to this point. i can sell it, or fix it. but it might be expensive and not worth it. but if i dont fix it, ill loss money, because its not running and unreg'd

[whatthe?]

You should be able to find a 7M long motor (Just the block and head, no ancillaries) for 500 bucks or so. Provided your turbo and alternator etc are all good just swap all your gear on to the long motor and plonk it in. Me and a couple of mates did a long motor swap into a MZ20 in a day.
All of a sudden your formerly dead-motored car will be worth twice as much, even unregistered! I'd probably also check the torque of the head studs on the motor you get before you throw it in, but that's just me

[yotamotion]

Should never crank down head bolts on an old engine you can actually cause the head gasket to blow.

[RObErT_RaTh]

Should never crank down head bolts on an old engine you can actually cause the head gasket to blow.

Noted, I was unaware of this and will take this advice onboard. Cheers

[rob]

Should never crank down head bolts on an old engine you can actually cause the head gasket to blow.

are you saying you should never re-torque headbolts because it will cause the head gasket to blow?

[Kedderz]

Should never crank down head bolts on an old engine you can actually cause the head gasket to blow.

I dont see the harm in retorquing a head gasket. Provided you do it in the order of the service manual there shouldnt be any damage to the gasket nor the seal.

to the OP ; 7m soarers are going for about 5-6k atm depening on ks and interior condition. If you aim is to on sell the soarer, a swap over motor that is proved running and has no bhg will get you a car that can be sold for 5k or there abouts with rego.

Should you wish to keep the car, a long motor swap like whatthe? has suggested would be the best option. During this phase of building the motor you can also upgrade a few items, 550cc injectors, 1uz afm, SAFC2, ebay manifold + turbo and you will have a reliable 230-250kw 7m.

Both rebuilds should include a multilayer MHG and ARP head bolts.

[yotamotion]

are you saying you should never re-torque headbolts because it will cause the head gasket to blow?

Just what I was told by a mechanic after I did it and my head gasket blew. You can re-torque within a couple of weeks after installing a new one but after that you run the risk of splitting the layers. Apparently older HG's go a little bit hard and extra pressure splits the layers a little. I don't know how old the gasket was I re-torqued but it definitely blew afterwards (it was on a 4M). Put a 1J in it instead of the 7M. I did my conversion for about 4 grand all up and will never look back.

[spoolintanabe]

hey, i'm considering doing it.

anyone know somebody in brisbane that would have a long motor (7mgte)

hey actually where you get a 1jgtte put in it for 4 grand?

in brisbane?

[Kedderz]

id say he did the work himself. workshops will charge prolly 10k drive in drive out for that conversion.